New York Airbag Injury Lawyer
When functioning properly, airbags are the greatest safety feature in motor vehicles after seatbelts. It is estimated that front airbags alone have saved over 50,000 American lives over the past 30 years. By almost instantaneously deploying in a crash, airbags reduce the chances and severity of whiplash, concussion and other serious traumatic brain injuries, facial lacerations, and broken bones. Side or curtain airbags are standard in all new vehicles, and prevent or diminish injuries for backseat passengers as well. The key to their effectiveness is correct deployment. If an airbag deploys too late, or fast, or contains dangerous shrapnel or chemicals, they can make the collision even worse. If you were injured by a defective airbag, Cohan Law Firm can help you seek damages from the at-fault company that installed or manufactured the airbag. Our New York airbag injury lawyers are familiar with defective product liability claims such as airbags and other automobile safety features.
Defective Airbag Deployment
- Airbag deployed too late—Airbags are designed to deploy at a very precise moment in time. Deployed too late, the airbag can cause serious facial injuries because the car occupant’s face and body will be too close. If the airbag is not deployed at all, it obviously failed to do its job also.
- Airbag deployed with too much force—The typical airbag deploys at roughly 100 miles per hour. If it deployed too much faster than this, it can actually be counterproductive in reducing a crash victim’s injuries.
Injuries Sustained in Defective Airbag Claims
A number of airbag manufacturers have recalled their products due to safety concerns. The largest recall in U.S. history was for Takata airbags, which were installed in millions of vehicles from 2002 to 2015. These Takata airbags deploy with explosive, dangerous force injuring thousands and even killing over a dozen occupants. Takata airbags are defective due to their metal cartridge inflator, which contains propellant wafers that can ignite with explosive force, sending metal shrapnel directly into the face, neck, and chest of the very occupants the airbag was designed to protect. Other airbag injuries include burns and toxic chemical exposure that induces asthma attacks.
Common Injuries Caused by Defective Airbags
Airbag injuries are generally to the face, neck, head, and chest:
- Facial lacerations
- Facial fractures
- Blindness
- Fractured vertebrae
- Soft tissue injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Fractured ribs
- Burns
- Whiplash
- Concussion
- Decapitation and death
Call a New York Airbag Injury Attorney Today
If you were injured by an airbag that failed to do its job, you are entitled to compensation. Another driver does not have to be responsible for causing the crash in order for you to be compensated. You can seek damages directly from the automaker or airbag manufacturer. Winning a defective product claim against a manufacturer can feel like an uphill battle, but it is not impossible. However, we urge you to work with only the most experienced law firm in cases such as this. Call the New York airbag injury attorneys at Cohan Law Firm at 855-855-0321 for a complimentary consultation.
